Downshifting help

I believe it may have been intended for around town driving. LOL, I don't know about you, but, if I did this, it would take me three times as long to get through town. I rarely get the chance to slow down and stop at anything without using the brakes (and my engine brakes are always on). I'm not even sure how you could do this when dealing with red lights, as you will never be able to actually know when it's going to change soon enough in advance to bring your road speed down far enough to keep from hitting the brakes (unless you have some seriously mad strong jakes).

Now, as far as highway, I don't hit the brakes unless I absolutely have to (which is probably what you were referring to).

 

Actually I was talking more about in town driving. Let me ask you this, which is faster and more efficient? Stopping at every red light or cruising through the same intersection? You dont know when a light is going to change from red to green, but you sure have a pretty good idea and you can prepare for it instead of racing up to the light and stopping. Same as with a green light, if its been green for some time then you should prepare for it to go yellow. Just because you are in town does not mean you have to use up your brakes slowing down and stopping all the time.

 

thanks to all that have responded, very helpfull information......Thanks

 

otherhalftw

man you should be a instructor for any company. i mean i lisned(printed out) to everything he had to say. if done the way he has said it works like i been doin it for years. thanks for all your help here.

 

I mean no disrespect at all, but you are assuming that you are rolling down a road where you have the luxury to roll through intersections. This is something that I do not have as an option. I cannot travel at 25 mph though a 40 mph speed zone when the roads are packed full of people, as I will easily have 500 cars jumping in front of me, therefore causing me to be even slower and even less efficient, so the answer to your question would be "traveling with the speed of traffic" or "neither".

Actually, I do know when a light will change, there are plenty of signs to tell you, and if for some reason the signs aren't there, then I anticipate the change, does it mean I need to slow down to where I can stop at a light without hitting my brakes? Well, good lord, if you do that you will most certainly get a yellow and red light by the time you get that lumbering behemoth to that speed before the intersection.

 

Yep Panhandle is right- My trainer taught me never wrap your hand around the stick you should be able to push or pull it into gear. When you shift into 9th use only the palm of your hand, when youtake it to 8th the three fingers pullng down. Same with all of them. Also one thing that might help for lower range gears. 8th and 7th, just push the stick over with the side of your hand. let it "bump" against the spring, it will come back lined up exactly where you need it for either gear, then slip it up or down into place.
Next time you have the space, try it. Don't grab the stick just use the 'push pull ' method. Soon as you figure out your trucks "sweet spot" It will be like butter.

Every truck is diffrent, what works perfect in one will not work in another, each one has a "footprint" you need to figure out. Sounds dumb but take a dry erase marker and when you find the right speed to rpm ratio write it on the windsheild. After a while you'll not need the Tach. You'll do it by sound alone

 

You are assuming that I am assuming something. My opinion was, and still is, you dont need to hit your brakes every time you downshift. You and I, and most everyone else on here has just about the same luxuries and options when driving in town. I am not saying never use your brakes because that is impossible. Driving in the city you will use them alot. But you can save alot of wear and tear on them, your engine, your tranny and your clutch by using them all in conjuction instead of racing through town with red hot brakes, and still make it there the same time as the other guy.

 

This thread is, or was about downshifting, your "25 in a 40" scenario is completely different. But let me address it, maybe I can give you some points. (hopefully you will consider them)

You are from Phoenix, lets assume you are going from Phoenix to Kingman, using of course US60. You know that as you leave the I-10/I-17 interchange area, the speed limit on 60 is 35, heavy traffic---so why not travel between 32 and 35 mph--basically you are going with the flow, not trying to beat anybody by hot dogging through intersections. By traveling 3-5 mph below the posted limit, (with heavy traffic), you might not catch all the lights green, but you are running in a safe mode, allowing the ones who cut you off some extra space as they get over in front of you. That just means you get out of the throttle for a couple seconds, and prepare to stop (apply brakes) if necessary.

By maintaining the 3-5 mph slower cruise, statistics show, these trucks are less likely to be involved in a rear-end type collision, because of the simple fact, they are allowing the cushion space between them and the one in front.

When you pass Loop 101, the intersections are spread farther apart, and the signals are different, now the signals are set to react to cross traffic, dominant green to the US 60 flow (both dirrections). In other words, there is either a pressure plate, or the "cyclops" type of lense on the light itself, telling the electronic changer there is traffic wanting to cross the intersection. With this type, now the lights aren't timed to a speed, but regulated by cross traffic. Your "sign" the light will be changing is a vehicle, at the intersection, waiting to cross. If you see the vehicle, plan on the light changing--don't speed up, don't slow down, just be prepared for the yellow--depending on your weight, adjust for the change and stopping distance you will need.

Driving in town conditions, generally doesn't allow for downshifting approaching an intersection. When I am approaching an intersection, trying to not come to a full stop, (light going from red to green my direction), I try to use a two gear, or three gear change, allowing the truck to slow with engine drag, (off the throttle) or a little braking to catch that 2-3 gear drop. Hopefully I time it right and drop one more and keep moving when the light changes. But be mindfull not to encroach into your safe, vehicle to vehicle cushion. And remember to NEVER COAST OUT OF GEAR, clutch coast if necessary, but always be in gear.

 

dude, are you alright???

 

I don't disagree with that, perhaps I misunderstood your original post. Thanks for clarifying.